I was considering this week the role of free will. I believe it is a critical part of who we are and what we do. Even those more inclined to fatalism will feel mistreated if their freedom of choice or decision making is restricted. Relationships, actions and rewards are the three areas in which I’ve been considering this dynamic most of the week.

Relationships

Free will is essential for good relationships. Except in extreme cases, true connection, kindness, love, etc. between people can only be fostered and developed where the individual feels that they have a choice in the matter. Any other option may generate compliance, which at times may be necessary, but it will never develop a trusting and safe relationship. The question is whether or not compliance or trust is most needed at this point with any particular client.

Action

When free will is taken from an individual they may comply, faking the necessary actions at worst or, at best, completing the task begrudgingly. Even if the task was completed satisfactorily a person forced into action will not gain the benefit of an action, merely the result. As such, forcing an individual to make x number of phone calls will mean that they might make the phone calls but either do them badly or not learn from the actually process even if they do reap something beneficial from the results.

I must mention that I see following directions or instruction as different from forcing someone. When you have an individuals respect you can instruct them to make x number of phone calls and while they don’t like it they may still do it and do it with similar benefits of it being a free choice. The difference is when that respect, awareness of why, etc. is missing that it becomes forced and feels as though the free will is taken. I do also feel that at times compliance is necessary but it should not be the first attitude we aim to cultivate.

Rewards/Achievement

Rewards are enjoyed much more when the person freely chooses to participate. The individual can then take pride in their actions, can account to others about the effort they put in to gain the achievement or reward, can balance the equation of ‘effort=result’ that many of us are taught. Where an action is forced this is often taken away from an individual as they feel that they can’t take as much credit, if they do happen to be successful. They did the action but they haven’t participated mentally as deeply as someone who acted out of free will. Hence they can enjoy the achievement but can sometimes find it hard to claim the ‘effort=result’ equation as their effort and force of mind was probably moving in the opposite reaction.

Picture by Gisela Giardino